The Adjustable Spanner: History, Origins and Development to 1970

by Ron Geesin

The Adjustable Spanner is the product of thirty years' collecting and original research, fired by Ron Geesin's acquisition of the SLIK adjustable spanner that hung in his father's garage. At the core of this book is a concise history of this much-maligned tool. Serious and comical observations parallel its chequered life, from its bent beginnings in the blacksmith's shop to over-designed and lovingly engineered treasures from the small Birmingham machinist. Around this core are discussions and findings about components and construction on the practical side, and patents, registered designs and trade marks on the design protection side. Emerging from history, we take a closer look at uses and especially abuses, immerse ourselves in an analysis of types and styles, and dive deeply into the histories of the inventors and makers. You will be amazed at the engineering diversity required to produce these most fanciful but essential supports to the Industrial Revolution. This entertaining account is the result of the author's findings, stemming from his collecting over 3,000 examples and will be of particular interest to engineers, those concerned with industrial history and collectors of hand tools. Superbly illustrated with around 300 colour photographs.

730 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 26, 2015

Reviews

[Cecily]

This book from 2015 by Ron Geesin apparently outsold Jacob Rees-Mogg MP’s meagre sales of 734 launch-week copies of The Victorians: Twelve Titans who Forged Britain . Rees-Mogg is a high-profile Conservative (Tory) MP, and that week, was a likely candidate to replace Theresa May as Prime Minister.


https://twitter.com/EmmieRosePG/statu..."

I hope that remarkable fact pleases Geesin, and maybe generates a few sales to spanner fans. If you “Look inside” on Amazon, you see the fruits of 30 years’ collecting and research.

I love the specificity of the title: only adjustable spanners (aka “wrenches” in the US), and only to 1970. (Wikipedia credits their invention to English engineer, Richard Clyburn, way back in 1842.)

I've seen a couple of mentions that he's working on a new book: adjustable spanners since 1970, but I can't find confirmation anywhere, including GR or Amazon. So maybe that's wishful thinking by spanner nuts.

Meanwhile, I’m almost tempted to buy, or at least borrow, a copy - and I don’t even have any interest in tools! For now, no rating, because I’ve not read it.

For contrast, see my review of JR-M’s book abysmally rated book about Victorians HERE.